Translators and journalists released without charge in Ethiopia
Translators and journalists released without charge in Ethiopia
Militia members are seen near the border of Ethiopia’s Tigray state on November 9, 2020. Security forces in Tigray recently detained and then released four members of the press. (Reuters/Tiksa Negeri)
Nairobi, March 3, 2021 — In response to Ethiopian authorities’ decision today to release two media workers and two reporters who had been detained in relation to their coverage of the conflict in the northern state of Tigray, the Committee to Protect Journalists issued the following statement:
“We welcome the release of the translators and reporters who were detained in Mekelle, but they should never have spent one day in custody. Their arrests send a chilling message to other members of the press who may wish to cover the ongoing conflict in Tigray state,” said CPJ’s sub-Saharan Africa representative, Muthoki Mumo. “The Ethiopian government must guarantee the safety of the released reporters and translators, return any of their equipment still in state custody, and ensure that the local and international press can work without intimidation.”